Chapter 71

As the petals of cherry blossoms danced in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of the promise written there.

At this moment, Chen Xun stood at the entrance of the classroom, took a deep breath, and firmly held the secret letter given to him by his mother.

With each step up the ladder, the pressure increased. By the time one reached the top of the fifth level, the pressure on the body would be around 16,000 pounds.

Chen Xun's arms now had about 7,000 to 8,000 pounds of divine strength. If he used all his strength, he could barely withstand the immense force of 16,000 to 17,000 pounds. He thought that among the thousand new disciples, there should be a few who could withstand such intense pressure.

However, from the fourth level of the ladder, the aura emanating from the depths of the Dragon Binding Mountain was extremely terrifying, as if there were extremely fierce beasts imprisoned within. This directly pressed down on the soul seas of the people, making the new disciples who entered the fourth level face a dual test.

Unless one's soul was as solid as a rock, it would be impossible to resist the terrifying aura's invasion of the soul sea and withstand the dual test.

Many people could easily handle the test of the third level of the ladder, but as soon as they took a step onto the fourth level, over a hundred people were struck down. Chen Xun secretly felt that this ladder test was ten times more difficult than he had initially imagined.

He also didn't know if, among the thousand new disciples today, there were one or two who could withstand the dual test and directly pass the fifth level of the ladder.

Those new disciples who fell from the fourth level of the ladder were met with laughter. They all blushed with embarrassment and, facing the merciless ridicule and mockery, dared not retaliate.

Most of those who laughed at the new disciples falling from the fourth level were the black-robed disciples who had come to watch the spectacle early in the morning.

The various attendants accompanying them all had looks of disdain on their faces.

Seeing this, Chen Xun secretly thought: The path of cultivation is truly cruel. A slight mistake can lead to merciless elimination, and cold eyes and ridicule are common occurrences.

If you can't do it, can you stop others from laughing at you?

In the Canglan Academy, disciples are distinguished only by the color of their robes.

Those who had entered the academy three or even six years earlier, if they had not yet become core disciples of their respective halls and had not put on black robes, it meant their potential and future cultivation were quite limited. They naturally had no face or leisure to come and watch the grand ceremony for the new disciples today.

Those who truly had the leisure to put aside their cultivation and come to watch the spectacle were mainly the black-robed disciples who already had a certain status in their respective halls.

Those new disciples who stopped at the third level of the ladder platform did not continue forward, and the black-robed disciples did not mock them.

On one hand, these new disciples had a clear understanding of their own abilities, and on the other hand, most of them were still very young.

Like Zong Ling and Nan Xi, who were only thirteen or fourteen years old, could already withstand 4,000 pounds of pressure, their cultivation was already quite extraordinary, and they had great potential for future improvement.

One should not look down on the young and poor.

Disciples with great cultivation potential, even if their current cultivation was not high, would still be given sufficient attention in Canglan City.

Who would look down on them at this time?

Those who, thinking they were capable, rashly climbed the steps and were struck down from the fourth level of the ladder, were partly overconfident and careless, but more importantly, their soul cultivation was far inferior to their physical strength.

Physically strong martial cultivators were strong in the early stages of the True Yang Realm, but in the later stages, they would gradually be caught up by those with powerful souls. This was a consensus formed over thousands of years in Canglan.

Those new disciples who, relying on their physical strength, rashly entered the fourth level of the ladder but fell unexpectedly, would have no chance of becoming black-robed disciples in the future, so why should they be respected?

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Chen Xun paid no attention to these trivial matters and continued to climb the ladder with the other nearly three hundred new disciples.

In the end, only about 120 to 130 people made it to the fourth level of the ladder platform, with more people stopping on the ladder between the third and fourth platforms.

Among the thousand new disciples, those with upper-level barbarian martial strength numbered around a hundred.

As one of the hundred, Gu Jianfeng's steady climb to the fourth level of the ladder platform did not surprise Chen Xun at all. Although Su Ling and Su Yi did not have upper-level barbarian martial strength, the light emanating from their waists suggested they had treasures to help them resist the dual pressure from the mountain, allowing them to reach this point.

Spiritual weapons, secret talismans, and treasures were all part of one's strength, and the Canglan Academy did not require the new disciples to be stripped bare before climbing the ladder. However, by this point, it was not just Su Ling and Su Yi who had activated their talismans to resist the ladder test.

However, Su Ling and Su Yi were already quite strained, their faces flushed and veins bulging, their steps unsteady, as if they might fall at any moment.

Qingxuan, who only had the cultivation of the True Yang Foundation Stage Sixth Level, had not used any treasures and yet walked here effortlessly, which surprised Chen Xun.

However, Qingxuan was Su Qingfeng's adopted daughter, and Chen Xun guessed that she had practiced with Su Qingfeng since childhood, perhaps learning the Su family's secret and unparalleled cultivation techniques, which made her different from others.

The academy used this simple and brutal method to quickly divide the new disciples into different levels, which was quite efficient.

Seeing Chen Xun look over, Qingxuan smiled, but she was secretly surprised: Uncle Ge said Chen Xun had extraordinary talent, and it seems to be true.

Qingxuan's smile was charming, her fair and beautiful face blooming like a peach blossom, her bright eyes sparkling with a tenderness that touched the heart.

Seeing Qingxuan's charming smile, Chen Xun couldn't help but be captivated, secretly thinking that it was no wonder Su Ling and Su Yi followed her like flies, never leaving her side.

Chen Xun was now focused on cultivation and had no interest in distractions. He thought that if he were on Earth, with such a beautiful girl smiling at him, he would probably have run over to kneel and lick her feet.

Chen Xun also noticed that when Qingxuan smiled at him, Su Ling's rather handsome face twisted, and he thought this guy must be seething inside.

However, Chen Xun was more concerned about Qian Lan behind him.

Qian Lan's strength was far inferior to theirs, yet she had also followed them here, which surprised Chen Xun.

Qian Lan's beautiful face was covered in fine sweat, and her body was enveloped in a greenish glow, which was her innate spiritual sword heart, now fully activated. The glow, though seemingly weak, firmly helped Qian Lan resist the dual pressure from the mountain.

Apart from Su Tang, Qian Lan was the first person Chen Xun had seen with a soul sea anomaly.

Seeing that, despite only having the cultivation of the True Yang Foundation Stage Sixth Level, she had walked this far more easily than other upper-level barbarian martial or Qingyang Realm late-stage true cultivators, Chen Xun secretly thought that the spiritual sword heart was truly remarkable.

Qian Lan's unusual aura also caught the attention of the surrounding attendants and onlookers. Chen Xun looked up and saw many people on the mountain peak watching this way.

Su Ling and Su Yi, seeing Qian Lan's soul sea anomaly, were even more shocked. They all knew how much importance the academy placed on those with ancient bloodlines and soul sea anomalies.

A wave of turmoil surged in Su Ling's heart.

Lou Jiao's intention was to expel these five barbarians from the academy so that the Gui Xi tribe could deal with them without restraint. However, he never imagined that Zuo Qianlan, from the Zuo Ji tribe, would have an ancient bloodline. He thought, even if Qian Lan violated the academy's rules, how could the clan elders bear to expel such a promising talent?

Expelling Qian Lan was not something Su Ling and Su Yi could accomplish.

What should they do now?

Su Ling was in a panic, and he and Su Yi looked at each other, secretly thinking that if they continued to conflict with these five young brats from the Beishan, the clan elders might even sacrifice them, these unimportant side-line disciples.

But they had already received benefits from Lou Jiao, and the Gui Xi tribe was not to be trifled with.

"Relax, follow the plan, and we will definitely prevent Chen Xun from entering the academy! Even if the girl from the Zuo Ji tribe enters the academy, she is not a threat!"

As Su Ling was still in doubt, a voice from Lou Jiao reached his ears. He hesitated and glanced at Lou Jiao, unsure if Lou Jiao was deceiving him.

Chen Xun had been secretly observing Su Ling's movements all along. Turning around, he saw the hook-nosed attendant following them like a shadow and exchanging glances with Su Ling, which made his scalp tingle.

Chen Xun didn't know what they were up to, and he didn't have the right to confront the hook-nosed attendant, but the "bathing a monkey in a crown" insult could not go unpunished. Seeing that Su Ling seemed to be reconsidering, he walked over and said with a smile:

"If I'm not mistaken, if we take one more step, we should be qualified to wear black robes. Senior Sister Qingxuan still has some strength left, and I can try my best. Senior Brother Su Ling, you need to put in more effort. If we all go up, but Senior Brother Su Ling falls behind, it would be embarrassing for you to call me senior brother in the future!"

Gu Jianfeng also saw Su Ling and the hook-nosed attendant exchanging glances and was secretly angry but had no plan. Seeing Chen Xun urging Su Ling to continue, he was secretly pleased.

He could see that Su Ling was already at the end of his strength, his body swaying, as if one more straw would break his back.

They couldn't do anything about the attendant, but to torment Su Ling, they needed to pressure him to continue.

The Dragon Binding Mountain was not only the location of the academy but also the central array of Canglan City, operated by the Su family for a thousand years.

Even if the central array was only releasing one percent of its pressure, Su Ling knew how difficult it would be to take one more step.

However, Chen Xun's guess was not wrong. As long as one stepped onto the fifth level of the ladder, they would at least be considered a core disciple in their respective halls.

Although about 120 to 130 people had reached the fourth level of the ladder platform, not a third of them might be able to take one more step.

Su Ling had a clear understanding of his own abilities, but Chen Xun's words stung, and he saw the mocking smile on Chen Xun's face.

Su Ling was so angry that his vision turned black, and he spat out a mouthful of blood, staining the stone steps red.

"Ah," Chen Xun said in surprise, "Senior Brother Su Ling can't take it anymore. Don't force yourself. We won't wait for you..."

Chen Xun took a light step, standing steadily on the fifth level of the ladder, then turned back to Su Ling and said, "Senior Brother Su Ling, would it be okay for you to call me senior brother in the future?"

Su Ling was so angry that his liver and gallbladder felt like they were about to burst, and he struggled to lift his foot.

"Su Ling, don't," Su Yi saw that Su Ling couldn't withstand Chen Xun's provocation and was about to step onto the fifth level of the ladder, and quickly tried to stop him.

"Useless scum!" Chen Xun, who had just been encouraging, suddenly turned cold and sneered, "If you can't take this step, I'll step on your shoulders and defecate and urinate on you for the rest of my life! Junior Brother Su Ling, remember that!"

"You!" Su Ling, seeing Chen Xun's quick change of attitude and his arrogant and domineering demeanor, thought that even if he expelled Chen Xun from the academy, Gu Jianfeng and the others would still remain. If he couldn't take this step, he would still be trampled on by Gu Jianfeng and the others. How could he bear it?

Seeing Su Ling's hesitation, Gu Jianfeng also injected a bit of spiritual awareness into the Vajra Black Robe, using its protective power to take a step and stand steadily on the fifth level of the ladder, looking at Su Ling with a mocking smile.

Seeing Gu Jianfeng stand so easily on the fifth level of the ladder, Su Ling thought that it might not be as difficult as he imagined. He took out a handful of pills, swallowed them, and took a step forward.

However, in front of him, the fifth level of the ladder seemed to be blocked by an invisible barrier. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't break through this barrier and stand on the fifth level of the ladder...

Seeing Su Ling's forehead veins almost burst and his handsome face twisted in a terrifying way, Qingxuan knew he had reached his limit and gently advised him, "Su Ling, if you can't compete with Junior Brother Chen Xun, don't force yourself!"

Qingxuan's advice only made Su Ling's deep-seated anger surge, generating a new force in his body, and he managed to break through the invisible barrier like pushing through water...

Seeing Su Ling actually take another step, Chen Xun was secretly alarmed, thinking that if Su Ling broke through his realm at this moment, it would be a case of losing more than gaining.

Before Chen Xun's worry had passed, Su Ling, whose old strength was exhausted and new strength not yet generated, was overwhelmed by the immense pressure on the fifth level of the ladder, and his entire body was thrown back by the invisible barrier, spitting out a mouthful of blood in mid-air and falling to the steps below the fourth level platform...

Su Ling's magical robe was shattered, and he couldn't even withstand the pressure between the third and fourth levels of the ladder, being pressed firmly to the stone steps, unable to move a finger.

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